May
08

Lewis and Rangers rocked again by Colorado, 9-2

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers starter Colby Lewis got the first two batters out in each of the first three innings against Colorado.

Except the Rockies followed each time with multiple two-out hits on the way to their third lopsided victory over Texas in as many nights, 9-2 on Wednesday after switching locations.

“They’re swinging the bats really well right now. I got beat. That’s all there is to it,” Lewis said. “I didn’t go out there and walk a bunch of guys. I made pitches in the zone, and they put it where we weren’t.”

Nolan Arenado’s two-run double in the first extended his hitting streak to 27 games, matching Colorado’s record streak set by Michael Cuddyer and putting the Rockies ahead to stay.

Carlos Gonzalez homered for Colorado, which has outscored Texas 29-5 in three games this week. The Rockies won 8-2 and 12-1 at home with a combined 34 hits before the teams shifted to Texas for two games.

“We’ve got to ride this wave while it’s going good,” said Weiss, whose team’s 22 wins are tied for the most in the majors.

“I think Colorado just needs to leave town,” Lewis said.

The Rangers have lost nine of 12 and dropped to 17-17 overall.

Every starter had a hit for the Rockies, who finished with 16 and got 12 of them in 3 2-3 innings off Lewis (2-2).

“He looked like Colby to me. He got the first two outs and then they strung three hits together,” manager Ron Washington said. “Their first seven hits were with two outs. They were swinging the bats.”

Jorge De La Rosa (4-3) struck out four and walked three. The lefty gave up two runs over six innings while winning its fourth consecutive start.

Adrian Beltre homered for Texas and became only the fifth player in major league history with 100 home runs for three different teams.

After not getting a hit until his fifth plate appearance Tuesday night, Arenado wasted no time Wednesday. His double followed consecutive two-out hits by MLB-leading hitter Troy Tulowitzki (.414) and Gonzalez.

The Rockies failed to score in the second and again in the third, when Arenado was tagged out halfway between third and home by first baseman Prince Fielder after Colorado had two runners caught between bases.

But the last nine batters faced by Lewis had six singles in a row and consecutive sacrifice flies by Corey Dickerson and Tulowitzki before Gonzalez homered, his seventh of the season capping a five-run fourth to make it 7-0. Lewis had allowed 12 hits twice before, including against Colorado at home two years ago.

“I fell behind a couple of guys the first time,” Lewis said. “After that, they were attacking early in the count and barreling balls.”

Colorado had 13 hits before Texas finally got Michael Choice’s one-out single in the fourth. Beltre followed with his homer to straightaway center, his second this season after hitting the first a night earlier.

Beltre, in his fourth season with Texas, previously hit 147 homers for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-2004) and 103 homers for Seattle (2005-09).

The other players with 100 homers for three different teams are Darrell Evans (Atlanta, San Francisco and Detroit), Reggie Jackson (Kansas City/Oakland, New York Yankees, California), Alex Rodriguez (Seattle, Texas and Yankees) and Jim Thome (Cleveland, Philadelphia, Chicago White Sox).

It was only Baker’s fifth relief appearance in 167 career major league games, most with the Minnesota Twins from 2005-11 before the right-hander had Tommy John surgery in April 2012. He made three starts for the Chicago Cubs last September.

“He came in and gave us a chance,” Washington said. “He settled in and started getting some outs, but we wasn’t able to get to them.”

NOTES: Arenado had three hits and is hitting .364 (39 of 107) in the streak that started a month ago Friday. His streak is the longest for anyone 23 years or younger since Albert Pujols had a 30-gamer in 2003 when he was 23. … Rangers 2B Donnie Murphy left the game with a neck strain after tripping over first base trying to beat out a grounder to end the sixth.

May
08

Lewis and Rangers rocked again by Colorado, 9-2

KDWN

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers starter Colby Lewis got the first two batters out in each of the first three innings against Colorado.

Except the Rockies followed each time with multiple two-out hits on the way to their third lopsided victory over Texas in as many nights, 9-2 on Wednesday after switching locations.

“They’re swinging the bats really well right now. I got beat. That’s all there is to it,” Lewis said. “I didn’t go out there and walk a bunch of guys. I made pitches in the zone, and they put it where we weren’t.”

Nolan Arenado’s two-run double in the first extended his hitting streak to 27 games, matching Colorado’s record streak set by Michael Cuddyer and putting the Rockies ahead to stay.

Carlos Gonzalez homered for Colorado, which has outscored Texas 29-5 in three games this week. The Rockies won 8-2 and 12-1 at home with a combined 34 hits before the teams shifted to Texas for two games.

“We’ve got to ride this wave while it’s going good,” said Weiss, whose team’s 22 wins are tied for the most in the majors.

“I think Colorado just needs to leave town,” Lewis said.

The Rangers have lost nine of 12 and dropped to 17-17 overall.

Every starter had a hit for the Rockies, who finished with 16 and got 12 of them in 3 2-3 innings off Lewis (2-2).

“He looked like Colby to me. He got the first two outs and then they strung three hits together,” manager Ron Washington said. “Their first seven hits were with two outs. They were swinging the bats.”

Jorge De La Rosa (4-3) struck out four and walked three. The lefty gave up two runs over six innings while winning its fourth consecutive start.

Adrian Beltre homered for Texas and became only the fifth player in major league history with 100 home runs for three different teams.

After not getting a hit until his fifth plate appearance Tuesday night, Arenado wasted no time Wednesday. His double followed consecutive two-out hits by MLB-leading hitter Troy Tulowitzki (.414) and Gonzalez.

The Rockies failed to score in the second and again in the third, when Arenado was tagged out halfway between third and home by first baseman Prince Fielder after Colorado had two runners caught between bases.

But the last nine batters faced by Lewis had six singles in a row and consecutive sacrifice flies by Corey Dickerson and Tulowitzki before Gonzalez homered, his seventh of the season capping a five-run fourth to make it 7-0. Lewis had allowed 12 hits twice before, including against Colorado at home two years ago.

“I fell behind a couple of guys the first time,” Lewis said. “After that, they were attacking early in the count and barreling balls.”

Colorado had 13 hits before Texas finally got Michael Choice’s one-out single in the fourth. Beltre followed with his homer to straightaway center, his second this season after hitting the first a night earlier.

Beltre, in his fourth season with Texas, previously hit 147 homers for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-2004) and 103 homers for Seattle (2005-09).

The other players with 100 homers for three different teams are Darrell Evans (Atlanta, San Francisco and Detroit), Reggie Jackson (Kansas City/Oakland, New York Yankees, California), Alex Rodriguez (Seattle, Texas and Yankees) and Jim Thome (Cleveland, Philadelphia, Chicago White Sox).

It was only Baker’s fifth relief appearance in 167 career major league games, most with the Minnesota Twins from 2005-11 before the right-hander had Tommy John surgery in April 2012. He made three starts for the Chicago Cubs last September.

“He came in and gave us a chance,” Washington said. “He settled in and started getting some outs, but we wasn’t able to get to them.”

NOTES: Arenado had three hits and is hitting .364 (39 of 107) in the streak that started a month ago Friday. His streak is the longest for anyone 23 years or younger since Albert Pujols had a 30-gamer in 2003 when he was 23. … Rangers 2B Donnie Murphy left the game with a neck strain after tripping over first base trying to beat out a grounder to end the sixth.